A glittering Europe Day

The diplomatic corps celebrated a glittering Europe Day led by the head of the delegation of the European Commission in the Philippines, Ambassador Jan de Kok. The affair was held at the Mandarin Oriental which is fast becoming a favorite venue for diplomatic events.

Ambassador Jan de Kok looked dapper in a custom-made Silk Cocoon Barong Tagalog on which the symbol of the European Union (EU) was elegantly hand-embroidered. His wife Agnes, the European Commission’s Economic Counsellor Luc Vandebon and his wife Martha joined Ambassador Jan de Kok at the reception line.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Delia Domingo-Albert did the traditional toast on behalf of the Philippine government. Although Greece holds the EU Presidency, it is not represented in the Philippines by an embassy. This was why Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti, whose country takes over the position in July 2003, acts on behalf of the Greek EU Presidency.

High-ranking Philippine government officials who graced the affair included Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita. The diplomatic community was led by its dean, Archbishop Antonio Franco, Ambassador of the Holy See. The ballroom teemed with heads of missions from EU countries. Among them were Austrian Ambassador Christian and Irmgard Krepela; Belgian Ambassador Christian and Gul Tanghe; Finnish Ambassador Ramon and Eija-Liisa Anttola; French Ambassador Renee Veyret; German Ambassador Herbert and Micheline Jess; Italian Ambassador Umberto and Clara Colesanti; Netherlands Ambassador Theo and Kessara Arnold; Portuguese Ambassador Joao Caetano and Ulrike da Silva; Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz; and Swedish Ambassador Ulf and Lena Hakansson. Also seen were US Ambassador Francis and Marie Ricciardone; Cambodian Ambassador Ek Sereywath and his wife Khov Sang; Romanian Ambassador Rado Humescu; Egyptian Ambassador Saber and Aziza Mansour; Russian Ambassador Anatoli and Valentina Nebogatov; Mexican Ambassador Enrique Hubbard; Cuban Ambassador Ramon Alonso; Malaysian Ambassador Mohamed Taufik; Argentinean Ambassador Marion and Sylvia Schuff; Myanmar Ambassador U Tin Htun and Daw Nan Phaung; and Laos Ambassador Phiane and Somchit Philakone. Your columnist may have missed mentioning others who were present, but only because it was one evning when just about every embassy was represented.

One couldn’t miss the other lady ambassadors: Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce; Israeli Ambassador Irit Ben-Abba; Swiss Ambassador Lise Favre; Indian Ambassador Navrekha Sharma; Thai Ambassador Busba Bunnag; and Venezuelan Ambassador Milena Santana-Ramirez.

Ambassador Ike and Letty Syquia and Guatemala Honorary Consul Mellie and Louie Ablaza came with their friends. Chit Gohu; Ado Escudero; Robert and Luz Cullen; Norie Ongsiako were also spotted, as were Amando Doronila; Dieter Lehmann; Karl Krieger; the Italian cultural attaché Maria Grazia Anelli; and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Hendrik Garcia. Robin and Boots Moyer; John MacKinnon; Marleen Mortier; Guy Platton; Stephanie and Barbs Kerkhofs; Robert De Quelen; Eric and Isabelle Leger; Vincent Butaye; ADB’s Julian Payne; the World Bank’s Christian Rey were among the members of the expat community present.

He likes Lollipops

Washington "Wash" Sycip is a brilliant and much-admired businessman. Many know that this diminutive man has a big heart. But few know that he is a lover of music and that he is, surprisingly, a talent manager.

Yes, Wash wears many hats and one of his latest "projects" is the Lollipops, a singing group of stunning ladies who are also Wash’s dear friends: Maan Hontiveros; Sandy Hontiveros; Elsa Lava Mapua; Lory-vi Valdez; Nina Romualdez; and Mindy Barredo. This ’60s-inspired musical group had its beginning when the girls were members of a St. Scho high school chorus.

Wash recently hosted a sit-down dinner to introduce his "girls" and at the same time unwind with his special guests. The jolly occasion was a night of music and friendship, as the very talented Lollipops sang and danced the night away to good ol’ tunes. I sure was lucky to be there because how many people can get the chance to see Wash himself boogie with jetsetters Nene Quimson, Joanne Benitez, Josie Lichauco and other gorgeous ladies? It was surely an honor and a pleasure to party with Manila’s privileged few!

Good luck to the Lollipops’ singing career! We’ll be waiting for your CD!

A night of friendship

The Ambassador of Japan and Mrs. Kojiro Takano played the consummate hosts in a sit-down dinner in their North Forbes home in honor of Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon Jr.

Selected guests enjoyed an evening of friendship marked by the fabled Japanese hospitality. After cocktails in the mansion’s beautifully appointed reception area, guests moved the main dining salon.

The dinner meticulously prepared by a master chef brought in from Japan was a gourmet’s delight. It titillated not only the minds and palates but also the spirits of those lucky enough to be invited.

Your columnist was fortunate to be part of this select group. The dishes were so beautifully arranged I was hesitant to touch them at first for they were such a visual delight. But then I started to nibble the treats that came in cloisonné containers and elegant tableware. My! They tasted even better! French wines and the traditional sake complemented the seven-course dinner.

Ambassador Domingo Siazon Jr. and his charming wife Kay gifted the Japanese Ambassador with trophies and mementos representing Ambassador Takano’s triumphs in a recently concluded diplomat’s golf tournament in Eagle Ridge. What a combination – a single-digit handicap golfer, a dapper gentleman and a consummate host!

You are truly one of a kind, Ambassador Takano!